Hang our flags on the outer walls. Everyone’s screaming “The enemy’s coming!” Our castle’s more than strong enough to withstand a siege. They can camp there until they die of hunger and disease. If they were not reinforced with the soldiers who deserted me, I could have met them face to face and sent them packing back to England.
What’s that noise?
It’s women crying, my good lord.
Cousins, I hope the time is coming soon when we’ll be safe in our homes again.
We have no doubts.
Which forest is this one?
The forest of Birnam.
Order every soldier to cut down a branch and hold it in front of him while he marches. That way, it will be hard to tell how many of us there are. Macbeth’s reconnaissance won’t be able to get an accurate count.
Don’t bring me any more reports. Let all my men run away. Until Birnam Wood comes to the castle, I don’t have anything to be afraid of. Who cares about Malcolm? Didn’t a woman give birth to him? The spirits who know the future told me this: “Don’t be afraid, Macbeth. No man who was born from a woman shall ever be able to defeat you.” So run away, you disloyal lords, run away to the effiminate Englishmen! My mind and heart are forever free from doubt and fear.
The English soldiers are nearby, led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and good Macduff. They’re burning with revenge. Their reasons for revenge would stir even a dead man to fight.
We’ll meet them near Birnam Wood as they’re coming from that direction.
Does anyone know if Donalbain is with his brother?
I’ve stayed up observing her with you for two nights, but I still haven’t seen anything to make me believe your report. When was the last time she was sleepwalking?
Ever since the king went off to battle, I’ve seen her get up, throw on her nightgown, unlock her cabinet, pull out some paper, fold it, write on it, read it, seal it closed, and then go back to bed. And all this while fast asleep!
Let’s go find some quiet shady place, and cry till our hearts are empty.
No, let’s instead grab our swords, and stand like good men to defend our fallen kingdom! Every morning, more widows and orphans howl with grief. These cries hit Heaven in the face and echo as though the sky itself grieved for Scotland.
What did he do, that he had to run away?
You must be patient, madam.
He wasn’t patient. It was crazy to run away! Even when we’ve done nothing wrong, that kind of fear makes us look like traitors.
You don’t know if he ran away out of wise caution or fear.
Three times the striped cat has meowed.
Three times and once more the porcupine has whined.
Harpier, my familiar, cries out, “It’s time, it’s time”.
Around the cauldron we go, and throw in poisoned entrails. A toad, captured while sleeping, that sweat venom under a cold stone for thirty-one days. It’s first to be boiled in the magic pot.
What’s wrong, Hecate? You look angry.
Don’t I have good reason, you impudent hags? How dare you trade in riddles and fatal matters and make deals with Macbeth without consulting me or asking me to show our dark powers? Me, the source of all your magic and all our evil plans. And, to make things worse, everything you’ve done has been for a disobedient, spiteful man, full of rage. Like most people, he loves only himself and his own ambition.
